Hurricane Matthew effects on pine

C

cliff_h

Location
North Carolina
HO I have done some deadwood removal for asked me for opinion on whether to remove a tree affected by Hurricane Matthew winds. Approx eighty foot pine, earth around trunk pulled up close to a foot higher than before storm. No exposed roots. Tree has about 5 percent lean, looks stable. Will it recover? Some pre-storm twist and trunk voids, so not so pretty to start with. Advice and opinions? Thanks in advance.
 
Cliff, there are a lot of variables to consider, and you've not provided much to go on. Is the tree still moving (is the lean increasing), or has it stabilized in position? Is there a target of value, which could be hit and damaged by the falling tree, or by debris flying off of the tree upon impact?

Does the tree still have a decent looking canopy? Hurricane Matthew went through long enough ago that I'd think you'd see a lot of dieback, wilt and browning in the canopy if it had suffered major root loss. If you haven't done and don't do tree risk assessment as a part of your day to day offerings, you might want to suggest that your client level up at this point to an arborist with experience in this. If the tree has stopped moving, that's one thing.. If it's still in motion, that's quite another.

There are competent arborists in your area with tree risk assessment expertise. Guy is one of them.
 
Thanks, I know I didn't give much to go on. Had not talked to the HO (a neighbor) since before the storm. She doesn't recall if it was leaning before, and neither do I from when I climbed it for deadwood removal.
Canopy looks healthy. Would damage two nearby pines if it does fall. My tree, I would wait and see. She has already asked someone to fell it, just happened to see me walking by and asked. Just getting into this business, slowly and carefully, so I'm not qualified to give an expert opinion. I will let her make her own decision. Thank you very much for your reply. Matthew really had all the trees in our neighborhood swaying.
 
cliff_h said:
HO I have done some deadwood removal for asked me for opinion on whether to remove a tree affected by Hurricane Matthew winds. Approx eighty foot pine, earth around trunk pulled up close to a foot higher than before storm. No exposed roots. Tree has about 5 percent lean, looks stable. Will it recover? Some pre-storm twist and trunk voids, so not so pretty to start with. Advice and opinions? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
If they are trying to keep it and are understanding of potential risks, you can hang a plum line at around DBH with the weight near ground level. Measure distance from plum ball to tree stem. Then monitor the lean by measuring that distance. If it increases, then that bitch is moving
 
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